Eva Dolores Romero, Smuggling Heroin and Methamphetamine, California 2021

FRESNO, Calif. — Eva Dolores Romero, 55, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between Dec. 1, 2020, and Jan. 26, 2021, Romero’s son was an inmate at the Fresno County Jail. Romero conspired with her son and others outside of jail to smuggle methamphetamine and heroin into the jail for distribution among inmates.

The plot was unfoiled when law enforcement agents reviewed recorded jail calls and learned about the attempted smuggling set to occur on January 26. On that date, law enforcement intercepted an individual attempting to deliver athletic shoes to the jail for an inmate. The shoes were searched, and hidden compartments were found inside the shoes containing the illicit narcotics.

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno Police Department, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.

Romero is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 18, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Romero faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison up to a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a fine up to $5 million. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges against Romero include conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. Her actions led to the attempted smuggling of illicit narcotics into Fresno County Jail.

Romero’s case is a stark reminder of the ongoing issue of drug smuggling within correctional facilities. Her plea serves as a warning to those who would attempt to exploit these vulnerabilities for personal gain.

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